Valve



E. RUUD Feb. 23, 1932.

VALVE Filed March 25 w/rA/Essss Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES@PATENT i oFricsf@ A, 1 Y

A EDWIN RUUD, or ri'r'rsnuuen, PENNSYLVANIA vALvE Appiica'tion sledMarch 25, 192s. seriai No. 9125s.

This invention relates to valves and. more particularly to thoseof theautomatic cut off type such as are commonlyemployed in connection withvarious kinds of heaters as, "5 for example, automatic water heaters.,Y

A valve of this type, as generally constructed, is provided with athermally controlled mechanism which normally kmaintains .the

p valve-open to permit passage ofgasor-other 10 fuel to a connectedburner but which, if an associated pilot light should be extinguishedlfrom any cause, will bemoved as a result of the reduction in temperatureto a position .Y permitting the valve'to close. In reopening 15 thevalve, upon relighting the pilot light, the

valve must then be held in open position until the thermally controlledmechanism is heated sufficiently by the Vpilot flame to be moved intoposition to itself hold the valve open.:v

An object of this invention is to provide a valve of the type set forthof such construction and arrangement that when opened to 'permit fuel toflow to an associated burner or the like it will automaticallyremainopenv until the associatedjpilot flame is extinguished from any cause. YY, .wi A Vfurther object is `to provide a deviceof theftype,A setV forthwhich will A.be simple inY construction, positive and repliablel inopera.V tion and Veasy to manufacture andassemble.;

These-and other objects whichwill be apparent to those skilled in thisparticular art are accomplished by means 4of this invention? oneembodiment of which is illustrated in theV accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a vertlcalsectional view through one form of gas valveand associated burner constructed in accordance with one embodiment ofthis n invention. Y r e Y Fig. 2 is a somewhatV fragmentary vertical`sectional viewof the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 when the `valve hasbeen moved to its initial open position. Fig..3 is a view similar toFig. 2, but showing the relation of elements when the valve has beenmoved to its final or ordinary open position.`

The particular embodiment of this inven` tion which has been chosen forthe purposes of illustration` includes a valve 5 which is normallypressed kby a valve spring 6against` the valve seat 7 to close the valveopening. A

valve stem 8 is associated withthefvalve vfor guiding its movementandextends outwardly ,through the valve Ahousing 9 on eachl side thereof. 1One projecting end is 'provided with a head 10 by means .of which thevalve can be manually opened againstthe pressure of the valve spring topermit gas or other fuel' to flow through the inlet 11, connecting pipe12 and to'an associated main burner such, for example, as Vthe burner13', being'the usual form `of burnerv found iii-automatic water heaters.The usual'pilot light or burner 13 is provided in connection with themain burner 13" and gas is supplied to the pilot light through thewell-known separateV supply pipe 13". The opposite end of` the valvestem from thel head-10 is receivedfwithinja A housing 14 enclosing, anupperlever 15 pivoted upon-a supporting rod 16 or the like. y

A spring 17l is'associatedwith the end or-stop .portion of thelever4adjacent the valve stem so as to press the sametoward the stemandthepressure ofthe Spring-can be'varied-Lby van adjusting screw 18formingan 'abi'itment for the-adj a'cent` end of the. spring andadaptedto be locked by any. suitable means, such as v f Va lock nut`19. Ashoulder 20 is formed on the end of the'leve'r to prevent the saine frombe# ing. forcedpast the-end of the valve stem.

A thermal element 21 is associated with the burner or pilot light 13 soas to receiveheat from the flame thereof and is adjustably'connected toan operating rod 22 by any suitable means, such as 'adjusting nuts 23.VThe rod.;

extends into the housing 14: and bearsagainst this way thesupplyof fueltothe mainfburner y is automatically cut off upon extinguishing thepilot burner llame, and theflow ofjalarge pull the valve stem head 10outwardly and lin order to overcome the-disadvantage hereto-. forepresent in such devices, namely, the lne-` cessity for holding the valveopen until theV heat from the relighted `pilot burner has raised thetemperature of the thermal or ,temperature sensitive element suiicientlyto move `the operating rod 22 to the right `far enough .to permit thelever 1.5 to be again in position vto engage the end ofthe valve stemand hold the valve open,'there is provided a suitable mechanism 'forperforming the function until v the vthermal or temperature' sensitiveelement operate. A s

v As illustrated, this mechanism includes'an armor upper lever 25 whichmay convenienthas been heated suiiiciently for the lever 15 to Y ly bepivoted on the pivot shaft 16. The arm for lever is provided with'thevalve stem engaging vface 26 at the end thereof which is located beyondthe rod engaging face 15 of the lever 15 and a coil spring 27 isassociated with the arm 25 so as to normally press the valve stem`engaging vface toward the valve f stem.. 'The arin is also provided withan eXtensioncor abutinent28 which extends to- 'wardthe' adjacentportion. of the lever 15.

f. i lIt will be apparent thatwhenthepilotflame 'hasfbeen`r'extinguished from any cause the .,"valvef will beclosed so' as to cutoff the l'low p j of gas' to the main burners, thus preventing anypossible escape of-a large quantity ofV lunburnedgas, and the'eleinentswill then be in the position indicated in Fig.1. When the pilot light,is relighted, to permit the flow ofV gasto the main burners, the head10 is pulled" Y, outwardly to :open the valve. e Such opening of thevalve has moved the opposite end of the valve stein within the housinglft so as to permit the arm 25 to be moved into the positionindicated in Fig. 2 whereupon the adja-f cent end or stop portion of thevalve stem is engaged by the valve stem engaging face 26 `of the arm andthe valve is held open against" the pressure ofthe spring 6. Theengage-V ment of the longest downwardly extending leg or rabutment 28ofthe upper stop 26a with fthek adjacent. face ofthe lever 15 properly" 'Apositions the arm with relation to the valve i ythe latter underthein'fluence of the spring stem and prevents the former kmoving past27. The thermal element being cool at this time the rod 22 preventsmovement of the lever 15 under the impulse of its associated spring 17.Heat from the pilot flame will raise the temperature of the thermalelement'v which, in response to such change in temassociated spiralspring 6;' tha`t'is, afterthe valve 5 has been initially changed from apera'ture, will move the rod 22 to the right. Such movement permits thesprngl7 tomove the lever 15 upwardly as illustrated in the Y drawings.Inasmuch as the lever spring 177v is stronger than the spring 27associated with the arin, the latter will be moved away from theend ofthe valve stem until the stem sna1 s` oft'V the engaging face 26 ofthearm- 25 and onto the valve stem engaging face 15 of the leverl,seeFig.. 3. The shoulder 2() on. the lever 15 prevents further movementthereof and the valve is thus maintained open as long as the pilotburner is lighted. When the Vburner is extinguished from any cause thethermalelement forces the lever 15 downwardly against4 the pressure ofthe spring 17 and the `valve stem will snap Volf the edge Vofthe'supporting face 15 and permit closing of the Vvalve as illustratedin Fig. 1. In

view of thefactthat the face 26 ofthe arm-V f25 is positioned'beyond theface 15` of the leverfit will be apparent that downward Vlrnovement ofthe lever 15 asa result of cooling of the thermal element prevents thearm .25 from beingmoved into position at thel end of the -valve stemjasthe end of the arm 25 will merely contact with the `side of ythe-valvestem* and slide therealong, see Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be apparent that the'present invention provides a safeguardagainst the danger resulting from the emission of relatively largequantities of unburned gas' through the main burners whenthe pilot lighthas been eX- tinguished from any cause, and that the heatercan' berendered operative merely by light# ingthe pilot light and pulling thevalve 5 to *openpositiom where it is automatically held even'before thethermostatic mechanism has become operative. s l

`Figure 2 shows the relative' positioning ofk certain parts of myoperating mechanism immediately' afterthe valvev stem head `1() (whichis employed asa resetting means) has been pulled out Iagainstthe tensionof the "closed position (see'Figurel) vto an open7 position (see Figure'As the stem 8 is pulled back, the spiral; tension 'spring 27, pushes-anassociated upper stop member 26a downward as soon as the stem engagingface 26 Vclears an inwardly yextending end 8a of the valve rod or stem8. Then, as the manual (or it may be, of course, mechanical) pulluponthe head 10 ofthe stem'S is released,"

the spring 6 snaps it back, in Vorder that the face of the inwardlyextending end- 8a will tightlyand resilientlyV abut against the stemengagingpface 26 of the stop 2605 and initially vhold the valve 5 open.

The; lower position'of the upper stop 26a Vis limited by thev pressingof its lowermost vabutment 28 against the upper face or platform oftheextending .stop end of the lever v'15.1. 'At thisl time the operatingrod 22 is disslaan j megalomane Since the'lihemiuiei C061 g but, 'afterthe pilot .light '-13 ihasbeen jburning `.for a 'given period ottime,the thermal sufnit 21 iv(see Figure tends to pull the rod22 totheri'ght,thereby'releasfing its pressure'upon i '-.the lu'g24 'of .thelever 15. V"Ihenee, the "spiral spring I7 "associated" with' andupwardly pressingthe bottom face Yof the extendingend of the lever l is.permitted to raise the stop end of this lever andraise the upper-stop28 'against the relatively lesser `tensile force'exerted by the smallerspring'27. As a result, 'the endS'a of the valve'stem slides off .the

'frontzface 26 "of the'stop AQ teiaiid-slips against the 'front fa'ceil`of the vlever 15,1in order i that the "final position .shown in 'FigureSinay out departing from the spirit 'of this inven- 'tion or the scopeof vthe appended claims. That I claim :as new and desire to secure i byLetters Patent-is ment, said ends `when in engagement being disposed toact as a'stop forA said valve stem 4 .55 f v 1. `'Ihe combination'with amain gas burner of ka valve foreontrolling'the flowV of gasth'ereto,4avalve stem, a movablestop adapted to cooperate with saidvalve stemto hold said valve in open position to permit said burner to-be lighted, Va `pilot burner fand thermally responsive mechanismassociated withv said pilot burner Vand operative upon `lighting of saidpilot 'burner to displace said stopin holdingsaid valve open. v

' '2f vThe combination with amainburn'er for :an automatie'water4heateigof a cutoff valve for controlling the flow of ffuel thereto, apil-ot light, means normally biased lto hold said valve in 'open4position in response to movement of the valve to `said positionandthermally actuated mechanism actuatedfin v:responseto the heat of saidpilot 'light for displacing said `means in holding said valve open vaslong as .said pilot light burns.

3. In combination, a valve having a valve means biasing said valvetowards a close position, two members havingadjacentV ends pivotallysupported, means biasing the opposite ends of ysaid members towards engage whenthe valve is open,V thereby holding said valve open, andthermally responsive means kdisposed to "separate "said v'engaging lendslto permit the end ofsaid stem to -passtherebecombination, "a valvenormally biased lto a- ;closed position,'said lvalve being provided'l itweenwhen separated whereby fthevalve is released 'to itsclosedposition;

'4. In a valve Vcontrolling mechanism, in

vwith a 'valve stem, twostops disposedadjacent one end-o'fsaidvalve'stemfandfbiased' `towards engagement, one 7of said f'stops 'beingkdisposed toengagefthe-adjacent end olf lsaid stem inV response to themovementjof the valve lto its full open 'position fand-the other 4for'actuating said o setgstopv 'to Leffect vseparation of the stops,thereby permitting the end Aof the stem to pass therebetween land;

'of said stops lbein'gf offset with respect to lthe; end of 'the'stem to,permit a partial 'closing e. :ofthe valve,` andthermallyrresponsiveI"means ingiafstein'for actuating thevlalve,-fsaid valve :being normallybiased `towardsia closed )posi-"1 tion, said mechanism*comprising; aJplurality of i/movable stops adj acentl Aone fend o'f lsaid stem, .meansnormally 'biasin'gsaid .stops towards-engagemenaand thermally responsivemeans for actuating oneo'f said stops to ye'lfect separation -Y thereofthereby vpermitting "the end of the stem adjacent to thestops to passtherebetween and the valve to close, one :of said stops, when the`valveiis open, beingydis- 6. "Ihey combination with" a valve havingarodlikelongitudinally eXtending stemandaan associated vgaslburner, of apivoted `armv-movably lpositioned adjacent the end of the :valve posedto engage the end of :the valve stem.:VV

said valve Vin' open position and permitting y the flow of fuel 4to theassociated burner', a

Vspring-pressed lever adapted to lcontrol lthe positiono'f said arm,temperature'sensitive Vmechanism for operating'said `arm when'subv'jectedto a predetermined temperature, Aand allug on saidlever' forcontrolling the relative. positions of said lever and said arm. v

'7. The 'combination Awith -a poppet valve having a stem and anassociated burner, :of

a pivotedV arm normally engaging the side ofthe valve stem near one 'endthereof, a

spring for moving said arm into abutting relation withlthe end vface Aof'said stem .upon i opening of said valve, so thatsaidv val-ve stemdisposed for longitudinal movement,

spring-pressed lever adaptedto control said-` Varm, and a'temperaturesensitivelmeans for operatingfsaid llever when subfjectedtova predetermined temperature.

yace

A48. 'The combination with a lgas burner, of Y 'ag poppet valveforcontrolling the flow` :of ygas theretoVa usual form of longitudinalvalve stem therefor, la Vpivotal arm having a movable end positionedadjacent the end of said valve stem, resilient meansfor moving said arminto "engagement vvithftheYV end :off 'said' stem upon opening 'of' saidvalvezfor maintaining said valve in open-' positionsand' vfforpermitting a'lflow'of fgas to Iftheaburner, Va resiliently `disposedmember ffor ldisplacing A saidfarm'and for maintaining said walve in'milio a nal open position, and thermally actuated means Aforcontrolling the displacement of said` member.

9. Thecombination with ajiuid burner of a longitudinal stem valve forcontrolling the flow of liuid thereto, upperand lower Vlevermemberspivoted at a commonpoint and dis- -posed adjacent the end of saidvalve stem,

means normally holding said 2 members yin *abutting relationship withrespect to each otheradiacent the end of said valve stem, one

of said levers abutting against the end of said valvel stem, andadditional means for modifying the action of said rst mentioned meansand displacing one of saidlevers from abutting `relation with respect tothe end'of the valvestem and placing the` other lever in .abuttingrelationship therewith, said additional means including-a pilot burner,and a temperature responsive jmechanism associated with said pilotburnerand operative upon the lighting of said burner for, changing therelative position of said levers with `respect to said valve stem.

x10. The combination with a fluid burner o-a valve forv controlling theHOW of fluid thereto, anvalve stem. a pilot burner, :and a V4movablestop adapted to cooperate With said valve stem for initially holdingsaid valve in open position, a temperature responsive lmechanismassociated-With said pilot burner, another stop positioned ad]acent saidvalvek stem and cooperating with said temperature responsive mechanism,said temperature responsive mechanism being coop- -erativelv associatedwith said second 'mentioned stop for moving said stop into abut- .ting.relationship with saidvalve stem and displacing said rst mentioned stoptherefrom.v I.

l1. The combination With-a fluid burner, of a longitudinal stem valvefor controlling the flow of fluid thereto, an arm member and a levermember pivoted adjacent said valve stem` resilient means normallypressing said arm and lever members into abutting Yrelationship withrespect to each other and bias- .l ing said armmember to hold said valvein y initial open ,position in response to' movement of said valvetosuch position, said lever -memberhaving a lug portion at one endthereof, a temperature responsive mechanism co-V operating with the-lugportion of said lever member for modifying-the effect of said resil-`Vient means; and operable to-displace-.said

arm member from valve holding position,

and to place said lever member in-valve holding position. A c

12. Thecombination Withfa fluid burner of a longitudinal stem valve forcontrolling the lloW of fluid thereto, aplurality ofleversdisvlposedadiacent the end of said valve stem,.

each of .said levers having a face fformed` for abutment with the end ofsaidvalve stem,l

means jfor normally holding said levers in abutting relationshipwithrespect to each other and in a given relative :relationship withrespectto the end of said valve stem,` softhat one of said leversfwillnormallyabutagainst the valve stem, and additional means cooper-i-I .fating. withL one lof said levers for changing `.the relativepositioningfof said levers With zrespect to said valve stem,l andoperablefor displacing the leverabuttinsr the valvel stem l I holding,relationship With respect thereto.

' 13, The combination with 4a fluid burner 1 of alongitudinal stem-valve for controlling ffrom valve holding,V and for placing another-.35lever in abutting and valve `the flow of fluid-thereto, a plurality oflevers;A 30

disposed adjacent the end of said valve stem, each vof said levershaving a face Vadapted to abutthe-same portion of the endfof thevalvestem, means disposed for normally maintain- :ing said levers in abuttingrelationship Withf`v respect to each other and inal given relative.relationshipvvith respect to theend ofsaid valve stem and one of saidlevers in abutting relationship With said stem; and a temperatureresponsive mechanism for changing the-.4

relative positioning of said levers .With respect to said valve 'stem'and displacing vthe lever in abutment 'with said stem from valveholdingposition, and placing another of said tionship. a

14., The combination With a fluid burner of a longitudinal stem-valvefor controlling the flow of fluid thereto, apivoted arm memlevers'inabutting and valvel holdingrela-y yber having .a stop portion disposed.adjacent the relation of said arm with respect to saidv valvestem,"said means displacing saidjlever from and placing said armin-valve holding position. 'Y

15. The combination of. a valve for controlling the flow of fluidthereto, means normally biasedy to hold said valve in vopen position inresponse to movement of said valve to such position, a mechanismcooperating `Withs'aid means for displacement thereof,v and meansdisposedtoy take substantially the f'eXact displaced position ofsaidlirst :mentioned means When displaced, said second mentioned meansbeing disposed in cooperative relation With said mechanism for actuationthereby.

I 1,6. The combination With afluid burner of a vlongitudinal stem valvefor controlling the flow of lluid thereto, upper' and lovver levermembers pivotedat a commonpoint and disposed adjacent. the end. ofsaidvalve stem,

v los `with'a fluid burner,

means normally holding said members in abutting relationship adjacentthe end of said valve stem, one of said levers abutting Vagainst the endof said valve stem, and additional means for modifying the action ofsaid first mentioned means for displacing one of said levers fromabutting relation with respect to the end of the valve stem and placingthe other lever in abutting relationship therewith, said last mentionedmeans including a temperature responsive mechanism.

17. The combination with a iiuid burner,

of a suitable longitudinal stem valve Jfor controlling the flow of gasthereto, a plurality of pivotal levers disposed adjacent said valvestem, means normally holding said levers in abutting relationship withrespect to each other and in a given relative relationship withrespectto said valve stem, and holding one of said levers in abuttingrelationship with said stem,` and additionalmeans for `changing therelative position of said abutting levers with respect to said stem, andoperable for displacing said levers in abutting relationship withrespect to said stem and for holding said stem in different openpositions.

18. The combination with a fluid burner of a `valve having a stemdisposed for longitudinal movement and for controlling the flow `offluid thereto, means biasing said valve towards a closed position,members disposed adjacent. said stem, means biasing adjacent edges ofsaid members toward abutment withl each other, said edges when inabutment being disposed to act as a stop for said valve and hold itopen, and means disposed to separate said edges from abutment and permitsaid valve stem to `pass therebetween and close said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th ydavof March, 1926.

EDWIN RUUD.k

